22 FEBRUARY 2018

Jones Jr Wants a Piece of IBO Cruiserweight World Title Down-Under

TV Roy shapes up to Green

By Paul Upham in North Ryde: In his long, magnificent Hall of Fame boxing career, there are at least two things Roy Jones Jr hasn’t achieved. Fighting outside of the USA as a professional is one. Winning a world title belt at cruiserweight is another. 40 year-old Jones plans on fulfilling both of those goals with a fight against Danny Green in Australia before the end of 2009.

A two step agreement was outlined at a press conference in Sydney on Wednesday.

36 year-old Green 26-3 (23) will face Argentine Julio Cesar Dominguez for the vacant IBO cruiserweight world title in the main support to Roy Jones Jr’s match with fellow American Jeff Lacy on August 15 at the Gulf Coast Arena in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA.

While Dominguez and Lacy will have something to say about it, victories to Green and Jones Jr will see them clash at a venue to be confirmed in Australia, most likely in November 2009.

“Roy Jones Jr is a bloke who I, and millions of other people, have idolised,” said Green, a former WBA light heavyweight world champion. “He’s a legend of the sport. But if this fight takes place I certainly won’t be overawed. For me, the motivation will be to take down a legend.”

40 year-old Jones 53-5 (39) from Pensacola, Florida, who has won world titles at middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight, is looking to win a championship belt in his fifth weight class.

“I am preparing to fight Jeff Lacy right now,” Jones told the local media live via satellite. “Get that out of the way, then come to Australia, because it will be my first time fighting out of this country since I turned professional. To me, that is new territory.”

After being robbed of Olympic Gold at the Seoul Games in 1988, Jones Jr has repeatedly declined to fight outside the USA, until now.

“I know in Australia I can get a fair shake,” explained Jones, who has had two prior stints Down-Under whilst filming the Matrix movies with actor Keanu Reeves. “I am not concerned about it being like Korea. In Australia, I got treated just like a regular person and I appreciated that. I look forward to coming back.”

Green’s trainer Angelo Hyder has no doubt how a Green-Jones Jr fight would be remembered in Australia.

“This will be the biggest fight in Australian boxing history,” said Hyder, “and it will probably never get topped.”